No. 11 Seed Xavier Defeats No. 3 Seed FSU to Advance to NCAA Sweet 16

Saturday, March 18

Orlando, Fla.

6:10 p.m.

Xavier University

23-13

Florida State

26-9

Xavier

Florida State

No. 11 Seed Xavier Defeats No. 3 Seed FSU to Advance to NCAA Sweet 16

03.18.17 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)Postgame Quotes (PDF)

Musketeers reach sixth Sweet 16 in 10 years, will play Arizona in the West Regional in San Jose, Calif.

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

ORLANDO, Fla. - No. 11 seed Xavier (23-13, 9-9) defeated No. 3 seed Florida State 91-66 in the NCAA Second Round to advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 West Regional, where the Musketeers will play No. 2 seed Arizona on March 23 at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. Tipoff is set for 10:09 p.m. on TBS.

This is marks the sixth time in the past 10 years that Xavier has advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16, and the eighth time overall.

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Xavier advances to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the eighth time overall, including six times in the past 10 years and in two of the past three seasons.

This is head coach Chris Mack's program-best fourth appearance in the Sweet 16.

Eight Musketeers scored, including five in double-figures.

Trevon Bluiett scored 21 of his game-high 29 points after the break, marking the sixth-straight game the junior guard has scored 17 points or more in the second half.

Bluiett hit on 8-of-14 from the floor and 10-of-14 from the line.

Kaiser Gates finished with 14 points, the most in a game for Gates since scoring 17 against St. John's.

Tyrique Jones finished with 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting, with nine of his points coming after the break.

Sean O'Mara went 7-of-7 from the line and 2-of-2 from the floor to finish with 11 points. O'Mara also finished with a career-high three blocks.

J.P. Macura finished with 10 points, hitting 2-of-3 from outside.

The Musketeers owned a 36-33 advantage on the boards, led by six for Bluiett. Bernard, Gates and O'Mara each grabbed five.

Xavier assisted on 20 of 30 made field goals, led by five apiece for Quentin Goodin and Macura.

The Musketeers' bench outscored the Noles' subs, 27-17.

Xavier owned a 36-26 advantage on points in the paint. The Musketeers also owned a decided advantage on outside shooting, hitting on 11-of-17, to just 4-of-21 shooting on threes for FSU.

XAVIER BUILDS FIRST HALF LEAD

Both teams struggled from the floor early, with each team only hitting two of its first eight shots.

Xavier found its rhythm on the offensive end after back-to-back buckets for Macura put Xavier up, 8-5. The four-point outburst started 9-3 run to give Xavier a two-possession lead for the first time in the game.

After starting the game shooting 25 percent from the field, Xavier hit eight of its next 10 shots, including four straight buckets. During that hot stretch, Xavier's zone defense held FSU scoreless from the floor for over five minutes, helping XU turn a 12-0 run into a 15-point lead, 25-10, with nine minutes to play in the half.

Xavier's advantage was built largely in the paint, owning 16-8 advantage on points down low early, and limited turnovers, going the first 11 minutes of the game without committing a miscue.

After Xavier pushed the lead out to 15 points, FSU responded with 12-2 run of its own, cutting the lead down to five for the Musketeers, 27-22, with six minutes left in the half.

In the final four minutes of the first half, the Seminoles would cut the XU lead down to four, 30-26, but a Macura three pushed the advantage back out to three possessions.

The two teams traded buckets, with Bernard and Gates hitting threes in that stretch to re-extend the lead to 12 before going into the break up 10, 44-34.

All eight Musketeers who played in the first half connected on a field goal, with O'Mara's nine points on 2-of-2 shooting from the floor and 5-of-5 from the free throw line leading the way for Xavier.

Xavier shot nearly 60 percent from the field, including hitting 5-of-7 outside shots. After struggling down low to open the game, FSU looked inside, trailing XU only 20-16 on points in the paint in the first half, but connecting on only one of eight outside shots.

The two teams each grabbed 15 rebounds in the first half, with Xavier's effort led by Bernard's four. FSU grabbed five offensive boards to two for the Musketeers, but Xavier made the most of its second chances, outscoring the Noles, 5-4, on second-chance points.

MUSKETEERS PULL AWAY

Jones and Bluiett combined for the first nine points of the second half as Xavier pushed the lead back out to 12. XU maintained a 10-to-12 point lead until back-to-back threes from Macura and Gates started an 14-2 run to push the Xavier lead to 22, 69-47, with nine minutes left in the game.

After hitting only one of its first 12 three pointers, FSU hit a pair to get the Xavier lead back under 20. Each time the Seminoles would cut into the X advantage, getting as close as 17 in the final five minutes, the Musketeers would respond, with Bluiett scoring nine down the stretch to help secure the game.

Three late points for Bernard pushed the lead out to 25, 91-66, to set the final margin of the game.

Bluiett's 21 points, on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor, led the way in the second half, the sixth-straight game the junior guard has scored 17 points or more in the second half.

Jones posted nine points in the second half, going 4-of-4 from the floor as the Musketeers continued the strong shooting performance, hitting 14-27 from the floor. Gates also added nine in the second half, hitting 3-of-4 from three as the Musketeers went 6-of 10 from outside as a team in the second half.

The Noles shot 34.5 from the floor in the second half, connecting on only three of 13 outside shots in the final 20 minutes.

Xavier grabbed 21 boards in the final 20 minute to 18 for FSU. Gates had four to lead the way for the Musketeers in the second.

UP NEXT: SWEET 16

Xavier now prepares to face No. 2 seed Arizona in the NCAA Sweet 16 West Regional. Tip-off is set for 10:09 p.m. on March 23 at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. The game will be broadcast on TBS.

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